Man who allegedly led police on 115-mph chase waives hearing

A man who state police say led officers on a 115-mph chase from South Whitehall Township to Slatington gave up his right to a preliminary hearing Friday.

Brady W. Gruver, 23, of Allentown drove on sidewalks and only stopped when a state trooper rammed his car, causing him to crash in Slatington, authorities said.

Gruver fled on foot, but he was arrested two days later after police confirmed who he was by looking at his open Facebook page where he had posted several photos of his car, authorities said.

Gruver waived his hearing before District Judge Karen Devine and his case is headed to Lehigh County Court. His bail was lowered from $75,000 to $20,000.

According to a criminal complaint:

State police tried to stop Gruver at 12:50 a.m. on Dec. 5 on Route 22 eastbound near Route 309 in South Whitehall because the car's registration had been suspended because of insurance cancellation.

A trooper activated his lights and sirens, but Gruver accelerated, going as fast as 115 mph in a 55-mph zone. Gruver got off at the 15th Street exit, ran stop signs and traffic lights in that area and before driving into Slatington, where he drove on a sidewalk. Troopers rammed Gruver's car to end the chase in the 1100 block of Main Street in the borough.

Gruver fled on foot, but police returned to his crashed car and found insurance papers and a pay stub belonging to Gruver. A trooper confirmed Gruver's identity and car through Facebook.

He is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment and 44 summary traffic violations, including reckless driving, careless driving, driving at unsafe speeds, running red lights and stop signs, and not signaling for lane changes.

According to court records, Gruver has been cited more than 30 times since 2008 on a number of traffic violations, including speeding, driving without insurance and driving with a suspended license.